ITALIAN COMMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 74, 8 January 1941, Page 5

ITALIAN COMMENT.

BRITISH SJUCCESS BELITTLED.

CHANGE IN VIEW OF STRUGGLE

LONDON, January 6,

The Italian public have been prepared for the news of the submission of Bardia in a broadcast from Rome by Signor Ansaldo, the Italian publicist, a short time after the publication of the British communique announcing that the British flag was flying at Bardia. ' In a remarkable broadcast, Signor Ansaldo declared: “Without denying the truth, which is clearly that the port of Bardia is a position of considerable value in the Cyrenaica defence system, it is obvious that the place does not merit the grandiose name of fortress.”

This estimate of its defence works and of the significance of the battle for its possession sharply contracts with earlier assertions in Axis broadcast. As recently ,as December 30, a Rome broadcast in Arabic was declaring: “The well-planned fortifications round Bardia are; as good in value as the well-known MVlaginot Line.” The German view, as given in the “Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung,” was cited by a Rome broadcast in Italian on December 23. It stated: ‘ ‘The Italian people know the importance of this battle. They know' what a gigantic task they have entrusted to their soldiers. They know also that from this battle the result of the fatal clash between two worlds depends, that is to say, the final victory.” • The Rome broadcast to-day displays great anxiety to convince the Italian public of the correctness of the German view, as expressed in a German broadcast yesterday, that Bardia is only “a. momentary success in a secondary theatre of war.” The British advance in its present stage, says the Rome radio, “does not alter the military situation for Italy in the East. Our main army is intact. General Wavell is now facing the .same difficulties which the British said we were facing in our advance. Every tank, gun, and bullet used in the campaign in the Western Desert by the British goes in our favour, for they will not be able to replenish their equipment in Egypt, because of the Axis blockade.

“No matter what happens at this particular stage of events, the ultimate fate of the British forces in the East is sealed. Britain has made a great mistake. We have not yet played our last card. We are full of confidence in 11 Duce, and we are certain that Fascism has been strengthened, as has been shown' by the fierce resistance offered to the British troops.”—British) Official Wireless.